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1. Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU. There are still some who believe the Bengals could trade this pick to better address their wealth of roster holes, but passing on Burrow would be a mistake. Get the franchise quarterback and figure everything else out later. Previous pick: Joe Burrow, QB, LSU Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

3. Detroit Lions: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State. Whether it’s at this spot or a few down the board after a trade, Okudah has come into focus as Detroit’s best bet. The film, production and testing metrics are similar to what we saw when Jalen Ramsey was entering the league, and top Ohio State corners Denzel Ward and Marshon Lattimore have adjusted quickly to the next level in recent years. Previous pick: Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn Jay LaPrete, Associated Press

4. New York Giants: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville. There’s good reason to believe this selection will be an offensive tackle, it’s just a matter of figuring out which one. Although the gap has shrunk the past decade, there’s still a premium on guys who protect the blindside. Becton’s unmatched size (6-7, 364 pounds) is complemented by impressive physical gifts. Previous pick: Jedrick Wills, OT, Alabama Mike Strasinger, Associated Press

5. Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama. A matter of convenience since we’re not incorporating in trades into our first-round projections, at this point. After aggressively addressing needs through the free-agency period, the Dolphins are in position to secure the most important piece to long-term success, a top-tier quarterback prospect. Previous pick: Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama Sam Craft, Associated Press

6. Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon. The Chargers made a run at Tom Brady, but fell short to Tampa Bay’s pitch. Tyrod Taylor is a perfectly fine stopgap solution, but the soon-to-be 31-year-old quarterback isn’t the franchise’s future. Herbert could stand a year of development, focusing on his ability to take snaps and make reads under center, but the tools are there to be a longtime productive starter. Previous pick: Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon Butch Dill, Associated Press

7. Carolina Panthers: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson. The Panthers pulled themselves out of the quarterback market by signing Teddy Bridgewater, putting them in better position to pursue the best player available. Simmons is a do-everything defender who might not play the same role as Luke Kuechly, but could have a similar game-to-game impact. Previous pick: Jeff Okudah, CB, Ohio State Richard Shiro, Associated Press

10. Cleveland Browns: Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia. The Browns ponied up big dough to bring in Jack Conklin to play right tackle, but left tackle is still an issue. Some believe Alabama’s Jedrick Wills can move to the blindside, but Thomas, who played there and played well against SEC competition is a better plug-and-play option.
Previous pick: Isaiah Simmons, LB, Clemson John Amis, Associated Press

11. New York Jets: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama. The Jets aggressively addressed their offensive line during free agency, adding three potential starters. Getting the offense on track is a priority, and the next step will be securing better targets for quarterback Sam Darnold. Jeudy is the best option in this draft class, drawing comparisons to another former Alabama standout, Julio Jones. Previous pick: Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville Vasha Hunt, Associated Press

13. San Francisco 49ers: Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina. The 49ers are in the market for a receiver to round out the team’s offense, but instead of grabbing Jeudy’s Alabama teammate Henry Ruggs III, they won’t be able to pass on the value Kinlaw presents. He replaces DeForest Buckner, who was traded in exchange for this selection, keeping the 49ers’ front the team’s strength. Previous pick (for Colts): Javon Kinlaw, DL, South Carolina Sean Rayford, Associated Press

16. Atlanta Falcons: K’Lavon Chaisson, edge, LSU. The Falcons pass rush was a disaster a year ago. The team let Vic Beasley walk in free agency, replacing him with Dante Fowler. That’s a good start to upgrading the edge, but why stop there? Chaisson is a high-upside edge defender who should be able to quickly overtake Takk McKinley on the depth chart. Previous pick: A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa Gerald Herbert, Associated Press

17. Dallas Cowboys: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida. The Cowboys have done a nice job working around a tricky cap situations this offseason, re-signing Amari Cooper and adding Gerald McCoy and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to plug a couple of holes on the defense. There’s also some new holes with that unit following the departures of Byron Jones and Robert Quinn. Henderson, the speedy and strong Gators corner, can fill Jones’ old spot. Previous pick: Grant Delpit, DB, LSU Phelan M. Ebenhack, Associated Press

18. Miami Dolphins: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama. The Patriots like to build their defense around a strong secondary, so it figures former Patriots coordinator Brian Flores would do the same. After signing Byron Jones to a monster deal in free agency, giving the Dolphins a formidable pair of outside corners, McKinney (right) would solidify the middle of the defensive backfield. Previous pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa Butch Dill, Associated Press

19. Las Vegas Raiders: Grant Delpit, S, LSU. The Raiders picked up a stopgap safety in free agency, signing Jeff Heath to a modest, two-year deal, but the team would benefit from adding a long-term option to pair with Johnathan Abram, a first-round pick from a year ago. Playing through an ankle injury last year impacted his performance, but the playmaking tools are still there.
Previous pick: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU David J. Phillip, Associated Press

20. Jacksonville Jaguars: Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU. There are a couple of suspensions on the resume, including a season-long one for shirking a drug test he later said he feared would show his marijuana usage. That’s becoming less of an issue in the NFL and it’s hard to ignore the talent. Fulton could go a long way to helping the Jags backfill the roster hole created after trading away Jalen Ramsey. Previous pick: C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida Mark Humphrey, Associated Press

21. Philadelphia Eagles: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU. When slotting Jefferson to the Eagles in an earlier mock, I was concerned it might be a bit of a stretch. But an electric combine performance rubber-stamped the LSU standout’s 2019 season. The addition would help address the Eagles’ biggest remaining need. Previous pick: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU Danny Karnik, Associated Press

22. Minnesota Vikings: Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor. Minnesota picked up this pick from Buffalo in exchange to Stefon Diggs, so why not use the selection to replace the talented wideout? Mims has been one of the steady risers through the pre-draft process, showing well at both the Senior Bowl and combine. And it’s not as if the production wasn’t there at Baylor where he caught 28 touchdowns the past three seasons. Previous pick (for Bills): K'Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU Jerry Larson, Associated Press

23. New England Patriots: Jordan Love, QB, Utah State. With Brian Hoyer back in the fold, the Patriots have a veteran option to get through the 2020 season while developing Love into the franchise’s next face. Previous pick: Cole Kmet, TE, Notre Dame Branddon Wade, Associated Press

24. New Orleans Saints: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU. We previously had the Saints pegged for a receiver, but signing Emmanuel Sanders filled the need for a reliable option opposite Michael Thomas. That clears the way to add Queen, a sideline-to-sideline playmaker in the second level of the defense. Previous pick: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado John Bazemore, Associated Press

25. Minnesota Vikings: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State. Back on the clock with their original selection, the Vikings look to Gross-Matos to help replace Everson Griffen after the two sides divorced this offseason. Similarly built, he has a well-rounded tool set and is just scratching the surface on what he can be as an edge rusher. Previous pick: Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama Barry Reeger, Associated Press

26. Miami Dolphins: D'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia. The Dolphins spent big in free agency to improve the team’s defense, and after getting their franchise quarterback earlier in the first round, it’s time to surround him with the best possible weapons to succeed. Swift is the consensus best running back in the draft. Previous pick: Curtis Weaver, DE, Boise State John Amis, Associated Press

27. Seattle Seahawks: Austin Jackson, OT, USC. The Seahawks have long shown a blatant disregard for properly protecting quarterback Russell Wilson. After bargain shopping for offensive linemen again in free agency, Jackson can be a long-term piece. As a rookie, he could be a swing tackle or potentially shift to guard before permanently replacing Duane Brown as Wilson’s blindside protector in 2021. Previous pick: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State Rick Scuteri, Associated Press

29. Tennessee Titans: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama. Logan Ryan is still on the market, but is reportedly seeking a contract that will pay him $10 million per season. Filling the need with a draft pick is a cheaper option, and Diggs is a prime target. Outside of struggling against LSU, he allowed only 13 catches in coverage in Alabama’s remaining 11 games. Previous pick: Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah Vasha Hunt, Associated Press

31. San Francisco 49ers: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson. After losing Emmanuel Sanders in free agency, the 49ers need another receiver to pair with dynamic second-year player Deebo Samuel. Higgins has rare size — measuring in at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds — and he knows how to put his frame to good use. He found the end zone 25 times the past two seasons. Previous pick: Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama Chris Seward, Associated Press

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado. Sammy Watkins is due a $21 million cap hit, so it’s difficult to imagine he’ll be on the roster much longer. Shenault is an entirely different style weapon, but his size and speed in the slot as an underneath option would make for an interesting pairing with the field-stretching ability of Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman and Travis Kelce, making Kansas City’s offense even tougher to handle. Previous pick: Patrick Queen, LB, LSU David Zalubowski, Associated Press

Allen Park — If it's the difficult times in life that help us grow, it's no surprise Jamie Collins could run faster and jump higher and farther than most 250-pound human beings coming out of college.

Collins, one of the Detroit Lions' biggest additions this offseason, was well-versed in tragedy before he graduated high school. His parents, Fred and Carolyn, both died of heart-related issues by the time Collins was 6 years old. Death also came prematurely for Collins' older brother Frederick, who collapsed while playing basketball in 2007. He was 23.

Jamie Collins(Photo: Winslow Townson, AP)

"Shoot, I still think about it every now and then," Collins told The News. "I try not to think about it all the time. I feel like stuff like that happens, it's like fertilizer. Stuff like that happens for you to succeed and exceed in life, in different types of ways. God's calling is God's calling. It's sad. No one wants it. I know I definitely didn't want it.

"Things happen for a reason and it's what you do with it," Collins said. "I'm just trying to make the best of the situation. "

Collins' sister, Lisa Adams, kept the family together through those tough years. She raised Jamie, the youngest sibling, as well as her four other brothers, including Frederick.

"I owe everything to my sister," Collins said in a 2012 interview. "She bent her back for me and my brothers. She raised all of us and I would not be the person I am today without her."

Having to overcome a life without parents has made Collins adept at adapting to challenges. So it's no surprised that ability has carried over to the football field.

In high school, he was a star quarterback, but he was converted to a full-time defender at Southern Miss. There, he played all three levels, moving closer to the line of scrimmage as his body filled out.

Even though he was undersized for the role, he spent most of his senior year on the line of scrimmage because that's what the team needed. He responded by recording 10.0 sacks and 20.0 tackles for loss.

And at the scouting combine that spring, Collins rubber-stamped his film with one of the most impressive displays of athleticism for a linebacker in the past 10 years. He finished among the top-five at his position in five of the seven drills and his 139-inch broad jump remains the best mark ever recorded by a linebacker at the event.

Collins was drafted in the second round by New England, where he blossomed into a Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl within three years.

"I had Matty (Patricia) when I was coming into the league — smart guy, determined, gritty," Collins said, talking about his former coordinator and new head coach. "I had Jerod Mayo. I had Brandon Spikes. I had Dont'a Hightower. I had so pretty damn good guys around me. They helped me, helped mold me, including Bill Belichick, course.

"I sat and I watched," Collins said. "I don't do a lot of talking. I just sit back, I watch and I evaluate, man. Sitting back watching all those guys, it helped me become a real pro, a true vet, and a guy that's willing to make the best of a situation. Anybody can be thrown in there, but not everybody can do (the job). When I go out there, I don't want to be the one to mess up. I don't want to be the one to get beat. I want to be the one to make the play."

Jamie Collins: "I don't want to be the one to get beat. I want to be the one to make the play."(Photo: Winslow Townson, AP)

For Collins, who is always striving to make the best of the situation, embracing the Patriots' "do your job" mantra came naturally.

"It's their game plan and they use their players to their abilities," he said. "It's a do-your-job mentality and whatever they call, you have to swallow your ego, swallow your pride and get it done. I'm not the complaining type. Wherever I'm put, I'm just going to go out and do my best at it. I just so happen to be OK at it and make the best of the situation."

The thing about Collins is he's versatile enough to be effective in a number of roles. Having played at all three levels of the defense in college, he's just as comfortable rushing the passer as he is dropping into coverage.

He's coming off his most well-rounded season as a playmaker. Returning to New England after a three-year stint in Cleveland, Collins appeared in all 16 games in 2019, racking up 81 tackles, 7.0 sacks, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.

In the increasingly position-less world of NFL defenses, Collins is the type of matchup piece a coordinator covets.

"I definitely love being put into situations where they trust me enough to (move around)," he said. "I don't like being put in a box. I like to rush to the passer and I like to cover and pick passes, as well. I like to fill the stat sheet up. Instead of having 200 tackles, I want to be an all-across-the-board player."

Collins has always shown a knack for generating turnovers throughout his career, combing for 26 interceptions and forced fumbles during his seven-year career. Oddly enough, he attributes the attacking mentality to his high school days playing quarterback.

"I'm always looking at the ball," he said. "I used to touch the ball every play. I used to be the facilitator. It's always stuck with me to be in control. I like being in control. I feel like on the playing field, possessing the football is being in control. Whoever has the ball is in control and I want to be in control, therefore, I need the ball. By any means, I'm going to try to get it."

His desire to be in control on the field runs contrast to how often he hasn't been in control off of it, from losing his parents, to his older brother, to a Patriots' decision to trade him to the Browns in 2016.

What has continued to ground Collins through it all is his ability to take life as it comes and the love of his family, which now centers around 5-year-old son Jamie Jr.

"I love my son to death," Collins said. "I appreciate him. I thank him for everything. I'm still growing. He's made me a better man."

And Collins was in control of coming to Detroit, where he reunites with Patricia, as well as a couple close friends from his time in New England, Trey Flowers and Danny Amendola.

"They’re getting a determined player," Collins said. "Things I went through, man, I could have shut it down, but I kept pushing and did what I had to do to come up and succeed in life. I just feel like my upbringing really helped me through these hard times and through this time right now. Definitely getting a smart, head-on-straight, down-to-earth, fun, winner. Because we definitely are going to start winning right now."